Cigarette lighter



June 26, 1956 A. SALZER CIGARETTE LIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1955 INVENTOR.

SALZER MPH/7N5) ALEXANDER BY June 26, 1956 A. SALZER CIGARETTE LIGHTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

ALEXANDER SALZER BY June 26, 1956 A. SALZER 2,751,772

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Jan. 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 53 -Z z L I22] me M M F715. W

/06 a M y M 7 7 a a! ll Z /./4 fl In INVENTUR. M //Z M ALEXANDER Slam-2P2;

United States Fatent 6 CIGARETTE LIGHTER I Alexander Salzer, New York, N. Y. Application January 6, 1955, Serial No. 480,261

12 Claims. (Cl. 67-71) This invention relates to cigarette lighters and, more particularly, has reference to a generally improved lighter, having an improved means for saturating the wick, an improved wick mount, and an improved lid assembly including a flint rotating means, a wick cap, and latch, novelly arranged and coacting with one another in a particularly improved manner.

One important object of the present invention is to provide, in a wick mount, means facilitating the insertion or removal of a wick, and for holding the wick in proper position within a provided wick chamber.

Another object is to provide a reservoir separate from the wick chamber, in which reservoir a substantial quantity of lighter fluid can be retained, a slidebeing provided in the lighter construction which is actuable to transfer a measured, predetermined amount of lighter fluid from the reservoir to the wick chamber, for saturating the wick at selected intervals.

Another object of importance is to provide a flint rotating means which is operable responsive to swinging of the lighter lid upwardly about its hingeaxis, said flint rotating means being of an improved construction and being relatively simple and of low cost.

Another object of importance is to provide a removable wind guard or deflector, capable of being swiftly attached to or detached from the wick support means of the de vice, said guard being adapted to provide a flue or ehimney through which air will enter when-the wick is ignited, to provide a steady, substantial flame.

Another object is to provide, in one form ofihe invention, in combination with the above mentioned slide, a spring-loaded plunger which normally prevents communication between a wick chamber and reservoir. The plunger, when shifted to open position, permits the fluid to flow into the wick' chamber, even in the closed positionof the slide Thus,' it is proposed to equip the lighter with an"arrangement wherein, by movement of a slide, a measured quantity of liquid can be transferred from the reservoir to the wick chamber, or wherein, alternatively, by operation of a valve plunger, a free flow of liquid from the reservoir to the wick chamber is effected.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will b'e'had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various'novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a lighter formed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the dotted lines showing open positions of the lid and slide.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, the scale being the same as that used in Fig. 4, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. i 4 7 ice 2 Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6-6- of Fig; 2,'showing thecatch or detent means for the lid and slide. Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on line 7-7 of Fig. 2. h

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the wind deflector or guard, per se. k

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of the wind guard. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the slide per se. w Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 7. i Fig. 12 is a sectional-view on line 12-12 of Fig: 7. Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a niodi fied construction. M v 7 ii Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view online 14-14 of Fig. 13. I H p Q Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view on line 15-15 of Fig. 13. I i i f The reference numeral 10 generally designates a lighter formed in accordance with the present invention. h

The lighter includes a casing 12 which may be of any particular outer configuration desired. In the illustrated example, the casing is of flattened, rectangular formation, and overlying the upper end of the casing is a lid 14 having a spring hinge connection 16 at one end to tne back wall of the casing. I p p I V Fixedly mounted within the casing are transversely ex; tending, closely spaced partitions 18, 20, dividing the easing into a relatively largereservoir 22 for lighter fluid F, a flint tube chamber 24, and a wick chamber v 26. The wick chamber is filled with the usual absorbent cotton wadding which surrounds thev wick 2 8. The latter has its upper end extending througha neck 39 having external threads receiving the complementarily threaded skirt of v a wick support cup 32 having a center opening. of a diameter corresponding to that of the wick. By" reason of this arrangement, the insertion or removal ofa wick in the wick compartment is facilitated. cup 32 cm be unscrewed, so as to cause removal of said cup to take the wick with it, since the wick is engagedrelatively firmly in the cup, while being loose in the comparatively largedia meter neck 30. The wick can then he changed-if desired,vand when a new wick is placed in engagement at its upper end in the opening of the cup 32, said wick can be easily positioned through the opening of the neck 30, after which the cup 32 is secured once again to said neck 30. The neck 30 is provided with. a downwardly extending portion 30' which projects into the wick eharnher 26, and serves as a wick holder. This extension prevents any lighter fluid from leaking out of the lighter, should the latter be inadvertently turned upside down,

Within the flint tube chamber a cylindrical flint tube 34 is provided, the upper end thereof projecting through and being fixedly mounted in an opening formed in the top of the casing. The lower end portion of the flint tube is internally threaded to receive a screw 36 having a reduced guide shank on its inner end. A spring 38 is held under compression between the screw and a; lug 40 slidable in the flint tube adjacent the ppperend-there; of, said spring thus exerting pressure tending to force upwardly aflint 42. Y I ,7 A flint tube support 44 of inverted U-shape (Fig. 4) is fixedly mounted in the lower end-of the casing, the lower end edges of the partitions being abutted agai nst and fixedly secured to the front andback edges-of said support 44. The flint tube has its lower end engaged in a center opening formed in the horizontal bight portion of the support 44 as best shown in Fig. 2. I

Extending about the inner surface of the support 44, at the front and back edges thereof, are sealing strips 46 of soft rubber or the like. The sealing strips .46 are adhesively secured to said inner surface of the support 44, and are maintained in slightly compressed condition lgy an elongatedflectangular slide 48 mounted slidably iii the and the wick chamber 26, when the slide is in the full line position thereof shown in Fig.

At its front end, the slide 48 is integrally formed with an upstanding, flat,'elongated tongue 54 adapted to be positioned fiat against the front wall of the casing 12, as shown in Fig. l. The front end portion of the slide 4% is slidably mounted in a rectangular opening 52 formed in said front wall of the casing, and to prevent leakage at the location of said opening there is extended a sealing strip 54, resiliently contacting the slide body and adhesively secured to the edge portion of the opening 52 interiorly of the casing. Adjacent the front end of the slide, there is formed therein an opening 56 adapted to'be disposed in registration with the lower end of the fiint tube, when the slide is in the full line position shown in Fig. 2. When the slide is so positioned, it is also in registration with a larger threaded opening formed in the bottom of the casing which is closed by a screw 53. By reason of this arrangement, one can extend a small screw driver, nail file, or the like through the openings 56, and the opening of screw 58, to engage the screw driver in the kerf of the screw 36 when a new flint is to be placed in the flint tube. V I

Also formed in the slide body 48, between the rear end thereof and the opening 56, is an opening 69. This communicates with the reservoir 22 when the slide is in the full line position of Fig. 2.

When the slide is shifted from the full to the dotted line positions thereof shown in Fig. 2, fluid filling the opening 60 will be carried to the wick chamber 26, since in the dotted line position of the slide 48 the opening 60 is brought into communication with the wick chamber. The lighter can now be inverted to cause the fluid in the opening 6%) to pour into the wick chamber, for the purpose of saturating the wick. The wick can be saturated whenever necessary, and in this way it will be seen that a measured quantity of fluid can be transferred from the reservoir to the wick chamber, for the purposeof saturating the wick, at such times as may be desired. A substantial quantity of lighter fluid can be kept in the cigarette lighter, as a result, so that the cigarette lighter need not be refilled as frequently as is required in the case of conventional lighters wherein fluid is poured into a wick chamber filled with cotton wadding. in the illustrated example, there is no need for the use of cotton wadding, although, of course, said wadding can be placed within the wick chamber about the Wick if desired,

To facilitate the filling of the reservoir 22 there is formed in the bottom of the casing an opening which registers with the opening 60 when the slide is in the full line position of Fig. 2. The opening of the casing is threaded to receive a plug 62, which can be readily removed for the purpose of filling the reservoir with a new supply of fluid whenever desired.

In the opposite side edges of the tongue 50, intermediate the opposite ends thereof, fingernail-receiving recesses 64 are formed (Fig. 10), into which ones fingernails can be extended for the purpose of pulling the slide out to the dotted line position thereof shown in Fig. 2.

The slide is normally kept in its closed, full line position through the medium of a latching plate 66. The plate 66 is of inverted L-shape as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and like the tongue 50, can be attractively chrome plated or otherwise treated to add to the appearance of the lighter. The plate 66 has a horizontal leg overlying the top wall of the lid 14, at the front of the lid, and spaced above said top wall a short distance, as shown in Fig. 2. Fixedly secured to the underside of the top leg of the latch plate 66 is a depending, vertically extending shank 63 slidable in an opening formed in the lid, a spring '70 being circumposed about the shank interiorly of the lid and being held under compression between the top wall of the lid and a Wick cap 72. The cap 72 may have a center opening threaded to receive a complementarily threaded lower end portion on the shank 68, as shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate the connection of the cap 72 to said shank.

The cap 72, as shown in Fig. 2, is of inverted cup shape, and has a bottom edge'to which can be adhesively secured a compressible gasket, adapted to bear against the wick support cup 32. The cap, when the lid is in the closed position, encloses the exposed upper end portion of the wick, so as to insure against evaporation of the liquid with which the wick is saturated; As a result, whenever the lid is swung to its open position, there will be an ample supply of fumes and the upper end portion of the wick will be sufficiently wet to insure accurate operation of the lighter and ignition of the wick fumes without the necessity of repeated attempts to ignite the wick.

The depending leg of the latching plate 66 extends down the front of the lighter, to a location below the lower edge of the lid, the lower end 'of said depending leg of the latching plate being beveled, with the upper end of the tongue 59 being complementarily beveled. The depending leg of the latching plate is faced downwardly along the front wall of the lighter casing and is spaced from the front wall a distance approximately equal to the thickness of tongue 5%, as best shown in Fig. 2. On the inner surface of the lower end portion of the depending leg of the latching plate there is formed a locking lug or detent 74, engageable in amating shouldered recess formed in the upper end portion of the tongue 50.

The depending leg of the latching plate may have slightly springable characteristics, so as to permit the lower end portion of the latching plate to swing outwardly a distance sufficient to allow the lug 74 to enter its associated recess of the tongue.

From the above, it will be seen that when the lid is.

closed, it will hold the slide 48 against accidental movement from its closed position. However, if it is desired to resaturate the wick, it is merely necessary that the lid be swung to open position, after which the slide is free to be manually shifted to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of transferring a quantity of fluid F to the wick chamber.

When the lighter lid is closed, with the slide in the full line position of Fig. 2, the spring 70, tending to expand, will force the latching plate upwardly so as to aid in the engagement of the lug 74 with the shouldered recess of the tongue 50. The spring 70, it should be noted, is of a substantial strength, so as to force the latching plate upwardly into a locking position whenever lid 14 is shifted to a closed position by the user. The beveled ends of the tongue and latching plate, of course, facilitate this action, and additionally, the latching plate is of a sufiiciently resilient nature to further aid in the interengagement of said lug 24 with its associated recess.

In this way, not only is the slide left in closed position, but also the lid is releasably locked in closed position and at the same time, the wick cap, 72 is forced tightly against the associated top wall of-the cup 32 to insure against loss of the wick fumes.

To open the lid, it is merely necessary that one insert his or her fingernail under the beveled'end of the lower end of the latching plate 66, to shift the depending leg of said latching plate laterally outwardly, to the right in Fig. 2. This disengages the lug 74 from its associated notch, and the spring hinge 16 will now throw the lid 14 to its open position. The lid 14 is in its partia ly open position, it should be noted, in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 2, 7, 8 and 9, there is here shown a removable wind deflector or guard generally designated 76. This is formed from a single piece of relatively thin sheet metal material, having a rectangular bightportion 78 merging into short side Walls, the bight portion having horizontally extending, slot-like apertures 80 adjacent its lower end. The side walls have been designated by the reference numeral 82, and at their edges remote from the bight portion 78 merge into oppositely and outwardly bowed side wall extensions 84. The side wall extensions 84 are curved about a common center to constitute parts of the same circle, and have :an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the cup 32 (Fig. 7). As a result, the wind deflector can be lifted off the cup whenever desired, orcan be placed onthe cup by moving the same downwardly .in a vertical direction. When placed in engagement with the cup in the manner shown in Fig. 7, the wind deflector is securely held in place, and is held against lateral deviation. At the same time, it can be removed with a minimum of difficulty, merelyby a lifting action.

The flue apertures 80 open, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, into a chimney-like space 85 defined between the lower end portion of the back wall 78 andthe cup 32. Air will rush into this space through the apertures 80 when the wick is ignited, and will keep a steady flame burning as long as necessary.

Referring now to the flint wheel rotatingrneans, in Figs. 7, 11 and 12 a pair of transversely spaced, vertically disposed bearing plates 86 is shown. spaced relatively closely from the wick, and journalled in aligned bearing openings of the plates.86 is a shaft 88. .A flint wheel 90 is rotatably mounted uponthe shaft, in engagement at one side or face thereof with a gear wheel 92. The flint wheel, in.the' gear-contacting face thereof, has a shallow, circular recess receiving the adjacent side of the gear wheel, as shown in Fig. 7; Theinside wall of the recess is formed with a circumferential series of radially extending clutch teeth 94.

These are of triangular shape, soas to form on each tooth one sloping wall and one wall normal to the plane of rotation of the flint wheel and disposed at an acute angle to the sloped wall. The clutch teeth 94 in effect constitute ratchet teeth, and are engageable by a single pair of diametrically opposite clutch teeth- 96 formed upon the adjacentface of the gear wheel 92...

The purpose of this arrangement is to'cause the flint and gear wheels to rotate together when the gear wheel is turned in one direction. When the gear wheel is turned in an opposite direction, however, the teeth 96 ratchet.

or slip over the teeth 94, so as not to cause rotation of the flint wheel with the gear wheel in ,said other direction.

The flint wheel fltl is resiliently and yieldably biased axially of the shaft 88 into engagement-with the gear' wheel, by means of a spring 98 interposed between one.

of the bearing plates 86 and the other face of the flint wheel, as shown in Fig. 7. An elongated rack 109, having atapered lower or free end, isfixedly secured to and depends from the underside of the top wall of lid 14, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12.

The rack 190 is slightly curved in anarc having as its center the hinge axis 16.

The arrangement is one which causes the flint Wheel to be rotated responsive to throwing of the lid upwardly by the user. In other words, on release of the. latch provided by the lug 74, the spring'hinge 16 throws the lid upwardly, and the rack 160 causes rotation of the gear wheel 92 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing the same as in Fig. 2. This c uses similar counterclockwise rotation of the flint wheel, causing said'wheel to throw a spark from the flint 42 to the exposed upper end of the wick 23. It will be understood that at the same time that rotation 01. the flint wheel began, the cap 72 was lifted off the cup 32, since said cap is carried by lid 14 and swings upwardly therewith to open position. i

The upper end of the wick will now be ignited, and the lighter can be used for lighting a cigarette or cigar. The flame will be maintained steady, even in the presence of These are.

afstrong wind, due to the provision of the chimney-like wind deflector or guard, having the flue action previously described.

When the lid is swung to closed position, should there be resistance on the part of the oppositely beveled edges of the tongue.50-.and the latching plate.66 to their move. them into an overlapping. relation, the: spring :70 will be .loaded to an additional extent, and ultimately, with lid 14 in fully closed position, will 'buiIdLup sufiicient force to shift the latching plate 66 into. a locking. position.

In the form of. the invention shown in Figs. 13-15, the casing 12 and lid 14 are similar to. the analogousparts of the first form. In fact, the modified constructionis in all, respects similar to the first form, except'that the in the slide, there is mounted a spring-loaded. plunger 1 which permits fluid to be transferred from the reservoir to the'wick chamber without requiring movement of the slide to the dotted line position of Fig. 2.

Thus, in the modified form, partitions 18 20 within the casing and the walls of the casing define a wick chamber 26 nextto the reservoir, and a flint tube chamber 24 at the front of the lighter. The wick 23 is similar to wick 28,. and at its upper end, is mounted in a wick-supporting means similar to that of the first form. Further, a wind guard 76- like that shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is used. Still further, an inverted wick cap 72 like that in the first form of. the invention, is secured to a horizontal leg of a latching plate 66 similar to that in the first form except for elongation of the horizontal leg thereof.

Due to the fact that the spark thrown by the rotation of the flint wheel must travel toward the hinged end of lid 14 as. distinguished from the first form of the invention, the rack 1th) is disposed at the opposite side of the ratchet wheel 92. that rotates flint wheel Flint wheel 90 in the modified construction rotates in a clockwise direction, rather than in a counterclockwise direction such as that in the first form of the invention, when the flint wheel is being rotated to throw a spark. Of course, ratcheting means similar to that shown in Fig. 11 is used, to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the flint wheel 90 when the lid is being lowered.

.The flint tube 34 is secured, at its lower end, in a support 44 of inverted U-shape, having at its opposite end edges sealing strips 46* extending about the elongated, rectangular slide 48 Adjacent the front or outer end of the slide, there is an opening 56*, to provide access to the flint tube.

A rectangular opening, in the lower end of the partition 18*, is provided throughout its edge with a similar sealing strip 102, engaging the slide so as to normally prevent leakage between the reservoir and the wick chamber.

, When the slide is in its closed position, a combination filler and measuring opening 60* formed in the slide is in communication with the reservoir. Communicating with the opening is the larger end of a tapered passage 1116 opening at its smaller end into a rectangular recess 104 formed in the slide in communication with the wick chamber. The opening 106, at its smaller end, has a tapered valve seat against which normally seats a conical valve element fixedly secured to one end of an arm 112 extending laterally from and rigid with the inner end of an elongated plunger stem 114 slidable in a longitudinal'bore 116 of the slide 48 The stem 114 projects from the slide at its outer end and is provided with a knurled -head 118. A spring 120 is circumposed about the stem 114 within recess 104 and normally biases the valve plunger to its closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 15. However, against the restraint of the spring, the plunger can be shifted manually to its dotted line position of Fig. 15, thus to permit fluid to flow out of the reservoir through the passage 106 into the wick chamber. 7

Thus, it is seen that when a measured quantity of fluid is transferred to the wick chamber, one can shift the slide outwardly without moving the valve plunger in any respect, the slide being shifted to bring the opening fi into communication with the Wick chamber to trans fer into the wick chamber the measured quantity of fluid contained in the opening 60*. The tapered passage 66 provides an extension of the opening 66*, so as to increase the measured quantity of fluid which is transferred.

If it is desired to transfer fluid without measuring the same, one can leave the slide in closed position and shift the valve plunger to the dotted line position of Fig. 15. As' a result, fluid will begin flowing into the wick chamber until the valve plunger is permitted to seat once again. The fluid reservoir can be provided with means venting the same to atmosphere under these circumstances, and the wick chamber is of course in eflect open to atmosphere due to the porosity of the wick extending upwardly through the top of the casing.

To facilitate the transfer of fluid into the wick chamber when the valve plunger is allowed to remain in closed position and the slide is moved outwardly, the passage 1% has a sloped top wall, as shown in Fig. 13, and a horizontal bottom wall. As a result, when the slide is 'moved to bring the opening 60 into communication with the wick chamber, the entire lighter can be inverted, and due to the sloped surface of the passage 106, which will now be on the bottom, the fluid will flow out of the passage 196 into the wick chamber.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, 21 wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold'a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, said casing including a pair of transversely extending partitions therein dividing the casing into .a reservoir for lighter fluid, a Wick chamber, and a flint tube chamber between the Wick chamber and reservoir, said lighter including a slide in the lower end of the casing having an opening communicating, in the recessed position of the slide, with said reservoir, said slide being extendible out of the casing to a position in which said opening thereof is registered with the wick chamber, for transferring a quantity of fluid held in the opening from the reservoir to the wick chamber.

2. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheelrotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the Wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, said casing including a pair of transversely extending partitions therein dividing the casing into a reservoir for lighter fluid, a Wick chamber, and a flint tube chamber between the wick chamber and reservoir, said lighter including a slide in the lower end of the casing having an opening com- '8 municating, in the recessed position of the slide, with said reservoir, said slide being extendible out of the easing to a position in which said opening thereof is registered with the wick chamber, for transferring a quantity of fluid held in the opening from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said lighter additionally including latch means carried by the lid and engageable with said slide 7 in the recessed position of the slide, whereby to simultaneously hold the slide in recessed position while holding the lid closed.

3. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, said casing including a pair of transversely extending partitions therein dividing the casing into a reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick chamber, and a flint tube chamber between the wick chamber and reservoir, said lighter including a slide in the lower end of the casing having an opening cornmunicating, in the recessed position of the slide, with said reservoir, said slide being extendible out of the casing to a position in which said opening thereof is registered with the wick chamber, for transferring a quantity of fluid held in the opening from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said lighter additionally including latch means carried by the lid and engageable with said slide in the recessed position of the slide whereby to simultaneously hold the slide in recessed position while holding the lid closed, said latch means including a plate of inverted L-shape having a horizontal leg overlying the top of the casing and a vertical leg extending downwardly over the front of the casing and lid, the slide including an upwardly extending tongue positioned against the front of the casing, the upper end of said tongue and the lower end of said vertical leg overlapping in the closed position of the lid with the vertical leg being disposed to hold the tongue against the casing, whereby to maintain said slide in recessed position.

4. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, said casing including a pair of transversely extending partitions therein dividing the casing into a reservoir for lighter fluid, a wick chamber, and a flint tube chamber between the wick chamber and reservoir, said lighter including a slide in the lower end of the casing having an opening communicating, in the recessed position of the slide, with said reservoir, said slide being extendible out'of the easing to a position in'which said opening thereof is registered with the wick chamber, for transferring a quantity of fluid held in the opening from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said lighter additionally including latch means carried by the lid and engageable with said slidein the recessed position of the slide whereby to simultaneously hold the slide in recessed position while holding the lid closed, said latch means including a plate of inverted L-shape having a horizontal leg overlying the top of the casing and a vertical leg extending downwardly over the front of the casing and lid, the slide including an upwardly extending tongue positioned against the front of the casing, the upper end of said tongue and the lower end of said vertical leg overlapping in the closed position of the lid with the vertical leg being disposed to hold the tongue against the casing, Wherebyto maintain said slide in recessed position, the overlapping portions of the latching plate and tongue having an interengaging lug and notch releasably engageable to hold the lid in closed position and'the slide in recessed position.

, 5. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and. means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, said casing including a pair of transversely extending partitions therein dividing the casing into a reservoir for lighter fluid, a Wick chamber, and a flint tube chamber between the wick chamber and reservoir, said lighter including a slide in the lower end of the casing having an opening communicating, in the recessed position of the slide, with said reservoir, said slide being extendible out of the casing to a position in which said opening thereof is registered with the wick chamber, for transferring a quantity of fluid held in the opening from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said lighter additionally including latch means carried by the lid and engageable with said slide in the recessed position of the slide whereby to simultaneously hold the slide in recessed position while holding the lid closed, said latch .meansincluding a plate of inverted L-shape having a horizontal leg overlying the top of the casing and a vertical leg extending downwardly over the front of the casing and lid, the slide including an upwardly extending tongue positioned against the front of the casing, the upper end of said tongue and the lower end of said vertical leg overlapping in the closed position of the lid with the vertical leg being disposed to hold the tongue against the casing, whereby to maintain said slide in recessed position, the overlapping portions of the latching plate and tongue having an interengaging lug and notch releasably engageable to hold the lid in closed position and the slide in recessed position, said latch means further including a shank depending from the horizontal leg of the latching plate and slidable in the lid, a spring circumposed about said shank, and a wick cap of inverted cup shape secured to the shank within the lid and engageable against said wick support means in wick-enclosing position, the spring being held under compression between the wick cap and lid, whereby to normally urge the wick cap to said position thereof while urging the latching plate to a tongue-engaging position.

6. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, the fiint rotating means comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted adjacent said flint wheel to rotate with the flint wheel about a common axis, a rack rigid with the lid and meshing with said gear wheel, whereby to cause rotation of the gear wheel in one direction on elevation of the lid, and ratchet teeth on the flint wheel and gear wheel respectively, arranged to cause rotation of the flint wheel with the gear wheel when the gear wheel is rotated in said one direction, while permitting the flint wheel to remain stationary when the gear wheel is rotated in an opposite direction during return of the lid to a closed position.

7. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity of fluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, the flint rotating means comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted adjacent 'said flint wheel -tor'ot'ate with the flint wheel about a common axis;*a-raek-rigid with the lid.

and meshing with said gear wheel, whereby to cause rotation of the gear wheel in; one direction on elevation of the lid, and ratchetteeth on theflint wheel and gear wheel respectively, arranged to cause rotation of the flint wheel with the gear wheel when the gear-wheel is ro cumferential series of radially extending teeth of triangular cross section formed upon one face of the flint wheel, and at least one pair of diametrically opposite, complementary clutch teeth on the flint wheel contacting one face of the gear wheel. V

8. A lighter comprising a casing, a lid therefor, a wick projecting out of the casing, means supporting the wick in the casing, means to charge the wick with a predetermined quantity offluid, a tube in the casing adapted to hold a flint, a flint wheel rotatably mounted above the tube adjacent the wick, and means responding to elevation of the lid to rotate the wheel in a direction to strike a spark from the flint for igniting the wick, the flint rotating means comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted adjacent said flint wheel to rotate with the flint wheel about a common axis, a rack rigid with the lid and meshing with said gear wheel, whereby to cause rotation of the gear wheel in one direction on elevation of the lid, and ratchet teeth on the flint wheel and gear wheel respectively, arranged to cause rotation of the flint wheel with the gear wheel when the gear wheel is rotated in said one direction, while permitting the flint wheel to remain stationary when the gear wheel is rotated in an opposite direction during return of the lid to a closed position, said ratchet teeth comprising a circumferential series of radially extending teeth of triangular cross section formed upon one face of the flint wheel, and at least one pair of diametrically opposite, complementary clutch teeth on the flint Wheel contacting one face of the gear wheel, the flint rotating means further including a spring adapted to bias the flint wheel yieldably axially of said axis of rotation of the flint and gear wheels, into engagement with the gear wheel.

9. In a lighter, a casing having a wick chamber and a reservoir, a slide mounted in said casing and having an opening communicating with the reservoir in one position of the slide and communicating with the wick chamber in a second position of the slide, to transfer a measured quantity of fluid from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said slide having a second opening communicating with the wick chamber in the first slide position and a passage extending between and communicating with the respective openings, and valve means carried by the slide and normally closing said passage, said valve means being manually shiftable in the first slide position to permit free flow of fluid from the reservoir through said openings and passage into the wick chamber.

10. In a lighter, a casing having a wick chamber and a reservoir, a slide mounted in said casing and having an opening communicating with the reservoir in one position of the slide and communicating with the wick chamber in a second position of the slide, to transfer a measured quantity of fluid from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said slide having a second opening communicating with the wick chamber in the first slide position and a passage extending between and communicating with the respective openings, and valve means carried by the slide and normally closing said passage, said valve means being manually shiftable in the first slide position to permit free flow of fluid from the reservoir through said openings and passage into the wick chamber, said passage being of tapered formation, with the taper of the passage being in the direction of the second opening.

11. In a lighter, a casing having a wick chamber and 11 a reservoir, a slide mounted in said casing and having an opening communicating with the reservoir in one position of the slide and communicating with the wick chamber in a second position of the slide, to transfer a measured quantity of fluid from the reservoir to the wick chamber, said slide having a second opening communicating with the wick chamber in the first slide position and a passage extending between and communicating with the respective openings, and valve means carried by the slide and normally closing said passage, said valve means being manually shiftable in the first slide position to permit free flow of fluid from the reservoir through said openings and passage into the Wick chamber, said passage being of tapered formation, with the taper of the passage being in the direction of the second opening, the passage having a top wall inclined from the horizontal when the lighter is in its upright position and a bottom wall horizontally disposed in said upright position of the lighter, said lighter when inverted, with the valve closed and the slide in its second position, being adapted to facilitate the transfer of fluid to the wick chamber by flow of the fluid along the inclined surface of the passage.

12. in a' lighter, a casing having a wick chamber and a reservoir, a slide mounted in said casing and having an opening communicating with the reservoir in one position of the slide and communicating with the wick chamber in a second position of the slide, to transfer a measured quantity of fluid from the reservoir to the wick chamber,

' said slide having a second opening communicating with the Wick chamber in the first slide position and a passage extending between and communicating with the respective openings, and valve means carried by the slide and normally closing said passage, said valve means being manually shiftable in the first slide position to permit free flow of fluid from the reservoir through said openings and passage into the wick chamber, said passage being of tapered formation, with the taper of the passage being in the direction of the second opening, said valve means comprising a valve stem reciprocating in the direction of its length within the slide, a conical valve element carried by said stern and seating in one end of the passage, and spring means circumposed about the stem under tension effective to normally bias the valve element to a seated position, said stem projecting beyond one end' of the slide and including a button for shifting the stem in one direction against the restraint of the spring to unseat the valve element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Oct. 28, 1920 

